Bartender Resume Example
Pursuing a career as a bartender provides opportunities for career progression and responsibilities involving maintaining bar cleanliness and mixing drinks accurately. If you want to stand out with your bartender applications, you'll need to create a professional resume that makes a strong impression on employers. In this article, we'll explain how to write a winning resume for bartender applications that best showcases your skills and experience.
This complete guide to a bartender resume will equip you with the tools you need to compete in your applications. The guide will show you practical examples of how to structure your resume to show off your best and most relevant skills and career achievements. It will also show you how to tailor your resume according to the job description and your unique skill set. Read on to learn how to write a top-shelf bartender resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Core sections to include in a bartending resume
It's essential to include a few core sections in your bartender resume, while there are also a few optional sections. If you're an entry-level candidate without much work experience, that section may be less prominent in your resume. You may focus instead on sections that showcase your skill set, such as education, projects, hobbies and hard and soft skills lists.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Resume Header and Personal Information
Your bartender resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Make your resume header clear, concise and as brief and compact as possible. Consider different layouts that spread the information horizontally across the page rather than using a different line for each piece of information.
Make sure the email address you list in your header is professional-looking and doesn't contain any inappropriate content such as nicknames or unsuitable language. Opt for an email address based on your name or profession, or a combination of both. Finally, check your contact details before sending your resume, to ensure everything's up-to-date.
Elizabeth Campbell
elizabeth.campbell@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
Bag End, Hobbiton, Shire, TX
linkedin․com/in/elizabeth–campbell123
Resume Summary
The next section is the resume summary. The section might also be called 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. This is a brief introduction to you, your key skills and your career achievements and ambitions. While a resume summary focuses on your career achievements and experience, a resume objective typically focuses on your ambitions for the future. However, make sure you keep your resume summary short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why bartender roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A good resume summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for bartender roles, while leaving the reader with an impression of your unique qualities and strengths. The most effective resume summaries also provide evidence to back up the claims made in them. See below for some great examples of how to approach your bartender resume.
Experienced bartender with a background as a Beverage Service Specialist, skilled in crafting a wide range of cocktails, maintaining inventory, and delivering exceptional customer service. Proven ability to manage high-volume environments, ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, and create a welcoming atmosphere for patrons. Strong interpersonal and multitasking skills with a commitment to enhancing guest experiences
Bartender with some experience in making drinks and handling supplies. Worked in places where I served people and followed rules. Tried to make the environment nice for guests. Good at talking to people and doing multiple things at once, aiming to make guests happy
Conversely, an ineffective resume summary would include generic, unspecific information on your skills and experience, while failing to provide any useful information on what makes you a unique and interesting candidate. The graphic above shows some of the pitfalls to avoid when creating your resume summary.
Hard and Soft Skills
The skills section of a bartending resume is a chance to list any skills you have that match those of the job description. You could include inventory management skills, high stress tolerance or any other skills that show you're a suitable candidate. Again, refer to the job description and make sure you include skills that the employer has listed as essential or desirable for employment as a bartender.
Showcasing hard skills on your bartender resume
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, it's important to show these skills in a bartender resume as they provide a strong indication of your experience in the sector. Include around four or five key hard skills that are listed in the job description. These skills will help to convince the hiring manager that you're a good fit for the position.
If you want to make a strong impression with your hard skills list, focus on hard skills that align with your specific industry expertise, and that reflect the job description. For inspiration on the right type of hard skills for a bartending resume, see below.
- Mixology techniques
- POS system operation
- Inventory management skills
Showcasing your best soft skills
In your list of soft skills, add any personal strengths, qualities or transferable skills that make you a good fit for the job. Soft skills are often less specific to different industries, but that doesn't make them any less important. In fact, you can develop soft skills throughout your career, and they tend to be suitable for various roles and professions. It's best to aim for four or five soft skills that match the job description and reflect your strongest personal qualities.
A strong soft skills section should play to your strengths, listing skills that reflect your personal qualities while also reflecting the skills listed in the job description. For some examples of good soft skills for a bartender resume, see below.
- Excellent customer service
- High stress tolerance
- Effective communication skills
Education
The education section provides space to list your highest and most recent academic achievements that are relevant to working as a bartender.
It's not usually necessary to have a degree for jobs as a bartender. Nevertheless, it's still crucial to list your highest or most relevant educational achievements. These might include ServSafe Alcohol, and other certifications or courses that highlight your inventory management skills or cash handling proficiency.
List every relevant qualification, including the name and level of the course, the name of the school, college or university, its location and your graduation date. You can also add some bullet points outlining any high grades, awards you won or specialist subjects you studied. Adding this information will show the employer your dedication to learning and your areas of specialist knowledge.
If you took part in any volunteering or you were a leader or member of any university societies, you could also mention these in your education section.
Hospitality Management, 2017 - 2020
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Certifications
Under certifications and licenses, add any further qualifications that show you're a good fit for the job. These might be licenses that show you're qualified to operate certain equipment, or certifications that give you the edge over candidates with otherwise similar career history. Therefore, list any official licenses and certifications, along with their dates, so employers can assess whether you've got the necessary qualifications to work as a bartender.
Below you can find several examples of certifications for a bartending resume:
- TIPS Certification, 2022
- ServSafe Alcohol, 2022
- Cicerone Certification, 2022
Work History
Under your work experience section, add any jobs you've had in the past that are relevant to the position of a bartender. List each relevant role in reverse-chronological order starting with your current or most recent role. Add your job title, the organization name, its location and the dates you worked there.
Under each job entry, add several bullet points highlighting your responsibilities and achievements. Consult the job description for a list of the key requirements for the role and make sure your work experience section showcases how you meet these requirements.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience listed in the job description. It's also critical to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers. There are some examples of strong resume work experience sections below.
Beverage Service Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Starlit Spirits & Co, Tucson
- Successfully managed inventory, reducing waste by 15% and increasing profitability by 10% within the first year
- Trained and mentored a team of 25 staff, resulting in a 30% improvement in customer satisfaction scores
- Led the implementation of a new beverage menu, boosting sales by 20% and receiving positive feedback from 85% of customers
Beverage Service Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Starlit Spirits & Co, Tucson
- Managed inventory and improved efficiency in the bar area
- Trained staff to enhance customer service and teamwork
- Implemented new menu items to boost sales and customer satisfaction
Above, you can see a weaker example of a resume work experience section to best avoid. A poor resume work experience section would typically use vague descriptions of activities in previous jobs, while focusing too much on responsibilities rather than achievements. Failing to focus on the skills and experience that match the job description is likely to harm your chances of success.
Expert Tip:
Emphasize hands-on experience and relevant skills, such as customer service, teamwork, or problem-solving, to showcase your readiness for the role. (1) Use bullet points to organize your resume and keep it easy to read, especially for hiring managers scanning for key qualifications. (2)
Additional Information
As well as the main sections of a bartending resume, optional sections can help you prove your credentials to employers. Add any of the sections below that help you showcase your key skills and experience.
Hobbies
Hobbies and interests can be a useful way of showing your skills and experience beyond your work and education. These are particularly useful for your resume if you're short of work experience and need to showcase a particular skill or experience. Think about adding hobbies and interests to your resume if they add some insight into your personality that you can't express elsewhere in your application.
Voluntary Work
Listing volunteer work is another useful way to prove your relevant experience for bartender roles. Add any voluntary roles, including your position, the name of the organization, the dates of your voluntary work and a brief explanation of your responsibilities and achievements.
References
Standard bartender resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
References are available upon request.
Best words to use in a bartender resume
Using strong action verbs in your work experience bullet points can make a stronger impression on employers and show the value you added to your previous roles. The suggested action verbs below will help the reader to understand your key qualities and the impact you made on the organization.
- Mix
- Serve
- Prepare
- Garnish
- Stock
- Clean
- Interact
- Recommend
- Handle
- Pour
For help creating an eye-catching resume design to catch the attention of hiring managers, see Jobseeker's professional resume layouts. You can also use our clear, effective cover letter templates to complete your application.
Example resume for bartender applications
Now we've covered the main sections to include in your bartender resume, let's take a look at how it all comes together in the example below:
Bag End, Hobbiton, Shire, TX
•
elizabeth.campbell@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/elizabeth–campbell123
Experienced bartender with a strong background as a skilled mixologist, adept at creating innovative cocktails, managing bar inventory, and providing exceptional customer service in fast-paced environments. Proven ability to train staff, maintain high standards of cleanliness and safety, and enhance guest experiences through personalized drink recommendations.
Mixologist
2020
-2022
Liquid Alchemy Creations (Richmond)
- Crafted award-winning signature cocktails, increasing bar revenue by 30% and winning the national Mixology Mastery Competition in 2022
- Innovated seasonal drink menus, resulting in a 25% increase in customer retention and positive online reviews
- Trained and mentored a team of 10 bartenders, improving service efficiency and overall customer satisfaction ratings by 40%
Mixology techniques
POS system operation
Inventory management skills
Excellent customer service
High stress tolerance
Effective communication skills
TIPS Certification
ServSafe Alcohol
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Tips for bartender resumes
- Include key skills throughout your resume that reflect the job description, and include a dedicated skills section.
- Tailor your resume to make it as relevant as possible to the role you're applying for. Consult the job description and adapt your resume to reflect the required skills and experience.
- Make your bartender resume short and to-the-point. A length of one page is ideal for junior roles, while two is acceptable for senior applications.
- Order your work experience in a reverse-chronological timeline, starting with your most recent position.
- List your qualifications in your education section, including any necessary degrees or certifications, along with high grades.
- Don't write any unnecessary personal details on your resume. Details such as age, gender or nationality can lead to unintentional recruitment bias.
- Don't use an email address that contains unprofessional content, and if necessary create a new, more professional email address.
- Don't list work experience that has no relation to the role you're applying for. It wastes space and is unlikely to impress hiring managers.
- Don't lie or exaggerate about your bartender experience or achievements as it can harm your chances in the long term.
- Don't use elaborate formatting or layouts. These can make your bartender resume less readable and harder for applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan.
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to manage their hiring process. They can handle some of the more time-consuming and resource-intensive jobs, such as initial screening of resumes. Employers often receive hundreds of applications per vacancy, and ATS software can quickly and accurately scan and rank resumes based on their likely suitability for any role. If you follow a few simple tips when writing your bartender resume, you'll give yourself a better chance of ranking highly in the ATS screening and progressing to the next stage.
Follow these simple rules when writing your resume, to make sure it's ATS compliant:
- Adopt a traditional structure for your resume, such as a reverse-chronological format or a functional format. These are likely to be the easiest layouts for ATS software to scan.
- Include keywords throughout your resume that align with the job description. ATS software tends to compare your resume to the job description for points of similarity, so careful, considered use of keywords should help your chances of success.
- Use clear headings that break your resume up into readable, scannable sections that match the standard content employers expect from a resume.
- Use a resume design that includes clean, professional design elements to give your content space to breathe. This might include clear, readable fonts, subtle color accents and simple design elements.
- Adopt simple, professional language to keep your resume as concise as possible. This tends to make your document more readable, and easier for ATS software to scan.
For advice and guidance on creating the perfect resume, read our expert career blog and check out our detailed resume examples.
Frequently Asked Questions about a bartending resume
Now that you know how to write a professional bartender resume, you might also want to learn how to write an accompanying cover letter that makes a similar impact.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
A full, formal cover letter follows a traditional letter-writing structure and format. Add your header, the recipient's address an use professional greetings and sign-offs. In your first paragraph, introduce yourself and confirm the role you're applying for, along with your reasons for applying. Next, outline your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to the bartender job description. Finish by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and adding a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to contact you for further information.
If you want to impress employers with a professional cover letter, use Jobseeker's simple and beautiful cover letter templates.
If you're an experienced bartender, your resume should focus on your extensive work experience and the achievements in your career to date. Your bartender resume is likely to have a longer work experience section than resumes for less experienced candidates, any you may wish to go back further than the standard 10 to 15 years of employment history, depending on your experience levels. Add any optional sections that reinforce your image as a knowledgeable, respected professional in your field. This might include awards and other recognition, successful projects or a dedicated achievements section.
If you want to create a strong first impression in your bartender application, a resume headline can help. Resume headlines are also a powerful way of increasing your resume's chances of passing the ATS stage. They reference the job title and some of the keywords that match the job description. Write a concise headline including the job title, a reference to your experience or track record and one or two key skills.
Here's an example of a strong resume headline:
- Aspiring Mixologist Seeking Growth Opportunities
- Expert Mixologist and Customer Enthusiast
- Experienced Senior Bartender Specialist
The best format for your resume depends on two key factors. Firstly, the amount of relevant work experience you have. Secondly, the type of role and its level of seniority. For applicants without much relevant work experience, a functional resume format tends to be best. This places the emphasis on your key skills and relevant qualifications. If, however, you have experience in your chosen profession, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format might be the way to go. This showcases your relevant skills and achievements in your work experience section.
Takeaways for a winning bartender resume
If you want to catch the eye of employers and recruiters, you need a professional resume that showcases your best skills and career achievements. Choose a resume structure that makes the most of your relevant experience, whether through work or other activities, and be sure to tailor your resume to match the job description.
Use Jobseeker's resume templates, other tools and resources to create an application that impresses employers. Sign up today to access a wealth of valuable resume and cover letter resources. Whether you're a junior or senior candidate, a professional cover letter can help to grab the attention of the employer. Jobseeker's cover letter examples were created by careers experts to provide useful tips and ideas for your cover letter.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
